193 



The Soviets and Japanese will not stop whaling because the United 

 States asks them to. 



A better way to achieve conservation of the whale stocks is to do 

 about what we have done. We have sliown by our own example that we 

 think whalmg on all of these stocks is miwise at the present time, and 

 we have gone before the "WHialing Commission and we have asked them 

 for substantial reductions in quota, and we got quite good support. 



Now, we did not win all of our points, all of our positions this time, 

 but we got commitments for further reductions in the quotas next year, 

 and we did make substantial progress. 



I think that this Nation's objective of bringing these whales under 

 effective management is best served by us working with the Commis- 

 sion and perhaps, as at least suggested by Mr. Talbot this morning, 

 eventually calling for renegotiations and perhaps a rewriting of the 

 Whalmg Convention. 



Mr. Kyros. Everything you have just related is certainly commenda- 

 ble and there is no question about your patience and the craftmanship 

 in getting these agreements. 



Let me suggest this to you. The American people, through their 

 elected Representatives, have put on record tough legislation effecting 

 a moratorium and, I think that the other countries will listen. 



A couple of years ago I met with Japan's Ambassador, a very fine 

 gentleman. He seemed surprised that our Congress really intended to 

 pass restrictive legislation on textiles. Now, we have a 10-percent sur- 

 charge on Japanese products. 



What I am trying to suggest to you is that perhaps we enact legisla- 

 tion not to undercut what you are doing, but to put some muscle be- 

 hind you. 



Let me ask you this question. Has the Soviet Union ever expressed 

 concern over the depletion of the Pribilof seals? 



Mr. McKerxan. Oh, yes. And they have been a very active member 

 of the Fur Seal Commission. For years, for their own herd on the 

 Commander Islands in the Western North Pacific, there was no sealing 

 whatsoever. There was a complete ban. 



Now, of course, there is a limited take, a take which is reconunended 

 to the Commission by the scientists of all four nations, and it is very 

 rigidly restricted. 



Mr. Kyros. Could the United States, with or without the consent of 

 the other signatories, forego taking its share of the fur seals under the 

 agreement without abrogating the treaty ? 



Mr. McKernan. Taking our share ? 



Mr. Kyros. Forego takmg our share of the Alaskan fur seal without 

 abrogating the treaty. Could we do that? 



Mr. McKernan. Let me make sure I understand. 



It would be your suggestion now that we take enough to give the 

 appropriate share to Canada and Japan, and simply not take our own; 

 is that what you are suggesting ? 



Mr. Kyros. Canada and Japan get 15 percent of the total. I am 

 suggesting that we forego killing our share, let the other countries kill 

 their share, and give up 15 percent. 



Mr. McKernan. Wlien they kill their share, they will do this pelag- 

 ically. All the fur seals at the present time are killed on land, either 

 in the Pribilofs by our native islanders or in the Commander Islands 

 of the Soviets, so, if we were to follow your suggestion, you would do 



